{"id":1327,"date":"2020-09-08T19:13:12","date_gmt":"2020-09-08T19:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/?p=1327"},"modified":"2020-10-21T20:20:34","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T20:20:34","slug":"bc-libraries-covid-19-edition-part-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/bc-libraries-covid-19-edition-part-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"BC Libraries, COVID-19 Edition, Part III"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since the BC libraries had to close in March, staff have been working tirelessly both onsite and remotely to continue to provide access to our resources and services to the BC community. With campus back open and classes beginning, we wanted to let you know the changes and updates throughout O\u2019Neill that are keeping the library safe for both students and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Entering & Exiting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By now you\u2019ve received a number of emails about how COVID-19 has changed the way BC and the libraries operate. The biggest change we\u2019ve made is in access. Current BC students, faculty, and staff have full access to the library during its hours of operation, but they cannot bring any food into the building with them. We are also one of the areas on campus where you will need to show your BC Daily COVID-19 Green Check to enter. Finally, to assist with contact tracing in case of an outbreak, there is a BC ID swipe station at the first and third floor entrances, and to let you know how hard or easy it may be to find a seat, screens in the entryways display current occupancy and capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"O'Neill
O’Neill Library level one service desk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Distanced Seating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"graduate
Graduate Reading Room on O\u2019Neill Library level 4.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve gone out during the past few months, you\u2019ve definitely seen the kind of signage we\u2019ve posted throughout O\u2019Neill. Scattered throughout, these are gentle reminders to maintain appropriate distance, wear your mask, and be sure to wash your hands. We\u2019ve also removed some furniture in accordance with state and federal guidelines on indoor occupancy limits. Many tables have one or two chairs, and every other desktop computer has been unplugged and made unusable to abide by social distancing guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traffic Directions and Printing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Sign
Closed doorway to staff area on O\u2019Neill level three.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some doors are now closed, some are only one way, but we made sure to put up plenty of signs and directional markers so there\u2019s no confusion on where to go. The biggest change for patrons will likely be to our printing area. This area gets a lot of traffic, so we\u2019ve marked out line spacing and directional signs for the Walk-In Help Desk and printing, both to maintain social distance but also to ensure everyone knows where to go to find what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Directional
Directional sign for printing and Walk-in Help Desk, O\u2019Neill level 3 atrium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Checkouts & Returns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the circulation desk, we\u2019ve installed plexiglass barriers at each computer station. While our employees will be wearing masks and gloves, there\u2019s also that extra level of protection that you\u2019ve seen everywhere from grocery stores to CVS. We have also moved the ID card swipers around to the front, so patrons will be responsible for swiping their own BC IDs. Don\u2019t worry, we swipe it wrong all the time too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"O\u2019Neill
O\u2019Neill library Level 3 circulation desk with new clear barriers. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are also two red carts between the counters. While normally you\u2019d be handing your items directly to the person working, now you\u2019ll be putting your items on one of these red carts for circulation desk staff. This extra step makes sure we\u2019re not directly touching things you\u2019ve touched, and vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online & Print Materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest changes is in our collection and what can and cannot circulate. When the BC libraries were originally closed as the campus shut down, many publishers stepped up to ensure BC patrons would still have access to resources they needed. HathiTrust dramatically increased the number of e-books and digital materials available for checkout. When you search for an item on the library website, you\u2019ll see a link for the \u201cFull Text Available at HathiTrust,\u201d which will bring you to the item and let you check it out. Watch this brief how-to video<\/a> to clarify the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Library

Library search results. Note \u201cFull Text Available at HathiTrust\u201d links.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(NOTE: Because of this expansion–and because of copyright restrictions–items that are now accessible in their e-book format from HathiTrust cannot be checked out from the library in print format.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you browse in the stacks, please check availability, so you don\u2019t have the disappointment of attempting to check out a book that\u2019s non-circulating. We\u2019ve posted signs throughout the library with QR codes that will take you directly to library search. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The reference desk has also undergone some changes. Instead of staff seated at the desk, they\u2019re now not restricted by location. You can reach them from anywhere on our 24\/7 Chat service: library.bc.edu\/chat<\/a>. Soon, they also plan to be available for those in O’Neill via ASK! Live on a computer in the Lobby.  Watch for announcements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might seem like a lot, but don\u2019t worry. O\u2019Neill and the other BC libraries are here and ready to help you with all your studying and research needs!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since the BC libraries had to close in March, staff have been working tirelessly both onsite and remotely to continue to provide access to our resources and services to the BC community. With campus back open and classes beginning, we…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"series":[],"coauthors":[91],"class_list":["post-1327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1327"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1432,"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1327\/revisions\/1432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1327"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=1327"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.bc.edu\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}